John k



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. INGERSOLL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HAIR-BRUSH.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 28,375, dated May 22, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. INGERsoLL, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Brushes for the I-Iair, &c.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a longitudinal vertical section of this invention` Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of a modification of the same.

Similar letters of reference in the three views indicate corresponding parts.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and operation with reference to the drawing.

A (Figs. l and 2) represents a hair brush of ordinary construction. A reservoir B, is secured to its top, and about in the center of the brush, and this reservoir is furnished with a perforated bottom C. The perforations communicate with some of the bristles I), underneath the reservoir B, by means of small tubes a, to which said bristles are attached; and said perforations can be closed by means of a valve E, which is secured to the lower end of a screw-rod b. The top c, of the reservoir is made somewhat convex, and so that the same, when forced in, will resume its original position. An aperture el, in the side of the reservoir serves to introduce the hair oil or other substance to be used with the brush.

Wlhen the valve E, is raised, a gentle pressure on the elastic top c, of the reservoir, forces the hair oil or other substance out through the tubes a, to the bristles.

The same principle may be applied with equal advantage to marking brushes or paint brushes, and in this case all the bristles constituting the brush A', are fastened to small tubes a, as shown in Fig. 3, and they form the bottom of a reservoir B', the sides of which are made elastic, so that by compressing said sides the paint or other substance is caused to ooze out through the tubes to the bristles, the atmospheric pressure on the lower ends of said tubes being sufficient to prevent the paint oozing out when no pressure is exerted on the sides of the reservoir. A spiral spring 0, may he inserted between the sides of the reservoir to impart to the same the necessary elasticity.

The convenience of a brush made according to this invention will be well understood by every practical painter, or in fact by every person having occasion to use a paint or a marking brush, and when applied to a hair brush my invention enables a person to spread the oi] over the hair, without touching it with the fingers, simply by the aid of the brush, and in this case the discharge of the oil is stopped by the valve E; and by pressing on the elastic top of the reservoir the discharge is facilitated, so that the quantity of the oil to be discharged can be regulated at pleasure.

I do not claim, broadly, the invention of vessels for holding liquids, which vessels are made elastic so as to have their contents discharged by compression; nor do I claim, broadly, the invention of fountain brushes; but

Having thus fully described my invention I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent- A brush provided with an elastic reservoir, so that by compression of some part thereof the liquid will be injected into the brush, as herein shown and described.

J NO. R. INGERSOLL.

IVitnesses:

M. M. LIVINGSTON, WM. TUSCH. 

